The TV sound needs to be decoded in order to receive an Audio Frequency (Sound_AF) signal.

The TV sound needs to be decoded in order to receive an Audio Frequency (Sound_AF) signal.

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The next step was the integration of the sound decoder into the PCI chip (e.g. cx25840 and others).

The next step was the integration of the sound decoder into the PCI chip (e.g. cx25840 and others).

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Sound Routing

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== Sound Routing ==

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Another common problem are the multiple sound sources (e.g. Line In, Tuner Sound_AF, Sound-Decoder_AF) which have to be connected to the PCI interface chip.

Another common problem are the multiple sound sources (e.g. Line In, Tuner Sound_AF, Sound-Decoder_AF) which have to be connected to the PCI interface chip.

As this chip only had one sound input, an external switch (crossbar) is required,

As this chip only had one sound input, an external switch (crossbar) is required,

this is commonly a HEF4052 mux (but sound decoders can have also a crossbar).

this is commonly a HEF4052 mux (but sound decoders can have also a crossbar).

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+

== Sound Output ==

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Historically most TV cards had a Line Out for the TV sound. This can be connected directly to speakers/headphones of to Line In of the sound card.

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+

Some cards had amplifiers in order to drive speakers or headphones directly. Else you need active speakers (which do the amplification themselves).

+

+

Newer PCI bridge chips can optionally digitize Sound_AF and deliver this over the PCI bus. You can direct this digital sound to the sound card.

+

+

In order for this to work the card IHV needs to connect the chips properly.

Revision as of 16:00, 29 January 2006

TV Sound Decoding

The TV sound needs to be decoded in order to receive an Audio Frequency (Sound_AF) signal.

Historically this feature has been built into the tuner tin can, but this
was only feasible for single TV sound standards. No programming was needed to get
sound from the tuner.

As an alternative tuners always had an extra output Sound_IF (Intermediate Frequency), which can be used by sound decoder chips to extract stereo or
implement support for multiple sound standards.

For stereo sound (and later Digital sound standards like NICAM) an
external chips (e.g. msp3415 or other) was introduced and needs to be properly supported by the linux driver.

For BTSC stereo also some discrete module (e.g. NE41S) exists on various cards.

The next step was the integration of the sound decoder into the PCI chip (e.g. cx25840 and others).

Sound Routing

Another common problem are the multiple sound sources (e.g. Line In, Tuner Sound_AF, Sound-Decoder_AF) which have to be connected to the PCI interface chip.
As this chip only had one sound input, an external switch (crossbar) is required,
this is commonly a HEF4052 mux (but sound decoders can have also a crossbar).

Sound Output

Historically most TV cards had a Line Out for the TV sound. This can be connected directly to speakers/headphones of to Line In of the sound card.

Some cards had amplifiers in order to drive speakers or headphones directly. Else you need active speakers (which do the amplification themselves).

Newer PCI bridge chips can optionally digitize Sound_AF and deliver this over the PCI bus. You can direct this digital sound to the sound card.

In order for this to work the card IHV needs to connect the chips properly.